Apparatus for severing metal articles



Feb. 8, 1966 l. s. LAWSON 3,233,443

APPARATUS FOR SEVERING METAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 10, 1962 INVENTOR. I 1/1412 5. LAWSON.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,233,443 APPARATUS FOR SEVERING METAL ARTICLES Ivar S. Lawson, RED. 2, Ashville, N.Y. Filed Sept. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 222,461 8 Claims. (Cl. 72203) This invention relates to the art of making tubing and like members in sections of predetermined length from a continuous fiat ribbon of material and is particularly directed to the means for severing such members by initially partially severing the material by scoring the same to Weaken the material along a narrow transverse line, forming the member into a predetermined cross section and subsequently finally severing the member at the weakened line by inducing stress to the completed member into the area of the weakened lines.

More broadly stated, the invention is directed to apparatus for severing tubing and like members into sec tions at predetermined intervals previously weakened by transverse score lines and subsequently oscillating the member in the area of the score lines to induce suificient stress to rupture the member into sections medially of the score line.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for severing formed members into sections of predetermined length, such apparatus being capable of performing the method defined in co-pending application of John C. Walters and Ivar S. Lawson, Serial Number 682,129 filed September 5, 1957, now Patent No. 3,052,975.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic view in side elevation, partly in section, of the scoring and initial forming means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view in top plan of the final forming and severing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a detail view in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a modified arrangement.

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on a line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is sectional detail View of a section of the tubing at the score line.

Referring to the drawing wherein the showings are for the purposes of illustration only, and not for the purposes of limiting the invention, FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates apparatus which may be used for scoring and partly forming a continuous strip of sheet metal which may be supplied from a coil of stock 12, supported by a suitable rack 10, The strip or ribbon 14 of stock emerges from the coil in a generally horizontal plane and passes through a scoring station which is inclusive of a table 16 and a vertically movable scoring die 18, arranged to produce a transverse score substantially from edge to edge of the strip. The scoring may be provided by any suitable means preferably at measured intervals in the strip stock. By way of example, the measuring and scoring may be performed in accordance with Lawson Patent No. 2,781,816 of February 19, 1957. For most purposes, the ribbon is scored on the top surface of the strip where it will be noted that the score line 19 is of generally V-shape, and then is passed into a plurality of roll forming stages indicated generally at 20 and comprising a plurality of pairs of forming rolls 21, 22 and 23, 24 for partially initially forming the scored strip into suitable cross section. For purposes of illustration, the

. finished formed section is generally tubular, although it could be of channel or other form.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing wherein the final forming means is illustrated as including upper forming roll 25 and the present severing mechanism. The formed member 27 emerges from the roll forming dies and preferably passes through a pair of guide rolls 29 and 30, and through a guide member 32, which is preferably provided with a bore or aperture 33 conforming in contour with that of the formed member. From the guide 32 the formed member passes into an eccentric rotary head indicated generally at 34, driven from a suitable variable speed electric motor 35, from which head the formed member passes through a second guide 37, generally similar to the guide 32. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rotary head 34- has been illustrated as gen-' erally including a tubular shaft 38 anti-frictionally mounted on spaced roller bearings 39 and 4th, the shaft 38 being provided at one end with an enlarged head portion 42 having an eccentric bore 44 within which is pressed roller bearing 45 having an inner race 46 provided with a central aperture 48 for slidabiy receiving the advancing formed member 27. It will be under stood that other than tubular sections could require an aperture other than of symmetrical shape.

The eccentric rotary head is preferable of auto-centering type and may be provided with means to vary its speed and throw. The purpose of the rotary head is to induce stress to the formed member in the area of the score 19 and between guides 32 and 37, rotation of the head being furnished from the motor 35' through V-p ulley St), belt 51, and V-pulley 52. As above noted, the motor 35 is of the variable speed type and thus can be controlled to rotate the head 34 at any suitable speed.

Rotation of the head 34 with the formed stock therein at predetermined speed serves to deflect the formed member to just under the elastic limit of the weakened or scored section. It is intended that the stress intensity be maintained sutliciently low so as not to impair the usefulness of the material. In other words, the speed of oscillation or gyration, as well as the degree of throw and the length of material stressed, are all factors that can be varied according to the material and its section. By maintaining the stress intensity below the elastic limit of the full section, but at or slightly above the elastic limit of the weakened section, it will be clear that the material will rupture at the weakened section without distorting the adjacent full section. As the stress is induced by oscillating or gyrating a length or section of material, it is clear that the material at the weakened section will be alternately placed under compression and tension at comparatively high frequency which causes the weakened section to fracture or rupture and thus cause separation medially of the score line.

A coil spring 53 or other flexibie member forms a guide means for the tube 27 and extends between the guides 32 and 37 as well as through the rotary head 34. Flexible guide 53 serves to confine the tube 27 particularly when the score lines 19 are comparatively close together and thus align short sections of formed elements in the event they become prematurely severed to eject them from the discharge end of the apparatus adjacent guide 37. Guide 53 is preferably capable of being oscillated by the head 34 at high speed so as not to interfere with the operation or the severing action of the head.

The foregoing arrangement is particularly applicable to comparatively long lengths of formed material. In the event that short lengths of material are to be severed, the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 can be utilized. It will be noted that guide 37 has been replaced by a tubular member 55 of larger inside diameter than provided in the guide 37, which permits the leading end of the formed member to gyrate or oscillate freely, but within predetermined limits. The inside diameter of this tubular member 55 is preferably calculated to permit the formed member to be deflected thereby an amount sufficient to rapidly reverse the stress induced by the gyrating action of the rotary head 34. In this instance, the end of the formed member is also eccentrically deflected to a' point below the elastic limit of the full section, but at or above the elastic limit of the weakened section. This results in a rupture of the section at the score line, and as the severed section is short, a suitable means may be provided to guide or direct such sections out of member 55. This is desirable as the process is generally a continuous one in which the leading sections are severed in timed relation to the speed of the forming operation.

V-Jhat is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making tubing and like members in Sections of predetermined length from a continuous fiat ribbon of material comprising means for measuring and marking the flat ribbon of material by a transverse score line to Weaken the material along a narrow line, a series of forming dies for rolling the material into a member of predetermined final cross-sectional shape, and rotary means for rapidly oscillating the formed member eccentrically in the area of the score line to stress the member to the elastic limit of the weakened score line to rupture and thereby sever the member medially of the score line.

2. Apparatus for severing tubing and the like into sections at predetermined intervals previously weakened by transverse score lines comprising means for moving the tubing longitudinally, means for guiding the tubing in its plane of movement, means for gyrating the tube in the area of the score lines to induce suflicient stress to rupture and thereby sever the tubing into sections at said score lines, and means to guide said severed sections from said gyrating means;

3. Apparatus tor severing tubing and the like into sections at predetermined intervals previously weakened by transverse score lines comprising means for guiding the tubing for longitudinal movement, means for gyrating the tube in the area of the score lines to induce sufficient stress to rupture and thereby sever the tubing into sections at-said score lines, and means for confining said tube to successively eject severed sections from said gyratmg means.

4. Apparatus for severing tubing and the like into sections at predetermined intervals previously weakened by transverse score lines comprising means for moving the tubing to a severing mechanism, means for oscillating the tube in the area of the score lines to induce sufiicient stress to rupture and thereby sever the tubing into sections at said score lines, and a coil spring surrounding a said tube for aligning said sections as they are severed from said tubing.

5. Apparatus for severing a web of material into sections at predetermined intervals previously weakened by transverse score lines comprising means for moving the material to a severing station, means for oscillating the material in the area of the score lines to induce sufiicient stress to rupture and thereby sever the material into sections at said score lines, and means including an elongated coil spring oscillatable with said material to align said sections and eject said sections successively from said apparatus.

6. Apparatus for severing a series of connected members into sections at predetermined intervals previously weakened by transverse score lines comprising means for moving the connected members longitudinally, a coil spring for guiding the members in their plane of movement, and eccentric means for oscillating said coil spring and the members in the area of the score lines to induce sufiicient stress to rupture and thereby sever the leading member from the trailing members at said score line.

'7. Apparatus for severing a series of connected members into sections at predetermined intervals previously weakened by transverse score lines comprising means for moving the connected members longitudinally, a flexible member fixed at opposite ends for guiding the members in their plane of movement, and eccentric means for oscillating said flexible member and the connected mem bers in the area of the score lines to induce sutficient stress to rupture and thereby successively sever the leading member from the trailing member at said score lines.

8. Apparatus for severing a series of connected members into sections at predetermined intervals previously weakened by transverse score lines comprising means for moving the connected members longitudinally, means for guiding the members in their plane of movement, eccentric means for oscillating said guiding means and the members in the area of the score lines to induce sufllcient stress to rupture and thereby successively sever the leading member from the trailing members at said score lines, and a second guide means for limiting the oscillating movement of said leading member outwardly of said oscillating means.

References Cited by the Esaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,585,896 5/1926 Danner 22596.5 2,222,842 11/1940 Humphrey 11333 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBING AND LIKE MEMBERS IN SECTIONS OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH FROM A CONTINUOUS FLAT RIBBON OF MATERIAL COMPRISING MEANS FOR MEASURING AND MARKING THE FLAT RIBBON OF MATERIAL BY A TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE TO WEAKEN THE MATERIAL ALONG A NARROW LINE, A SERIES OF FORMING DIES FOR ROLLING THE MATERIAL INTO A MEMBER OF PREDETERMINED FINAL CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE, AND ROTARY 